New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-17
rru vopK nAuy TRIBUNE THURSDAY, MARCH IL. 1857

other. and there WINS n change OF personality.
for the whole character was radically altered.
Thus in one state the patient was morose sus-
picious dishonest, while in another ne was
frank cheerful. amiablc and upright. Similar
nbenomcna were observed in the case OF Fchda
\. though her popularity is that the somnam
bulic state has become the normal or prevaicnb
one while what was the normal state Is The
occasional ono As this change has improved
,,cr character much, it is not to be regretted.
In all insane asyums cases are found OF loss
or exchange of personality, and often the In
sanity consists almost wholly in such an en-
change. The revelations of science, however
arc approaching a point which bears diiccuy
on alicnism Hereafter 1t may be necessary 10
realize that the substitution OF one personality
for another does not demonstrate madness,
but possible psychical disease as susceptible Oh
cure as many bodily ailments. Hypno'lsm Is
the key with which these mysteries OF mul'lplex
personality are being unlocked slowly ana
while as vet the mode of operation is not per-
ccived it is established that the influence mag
nctic or otherwise. does take hold of these pc
culiar psychica conditions, and modiics them
bencfcially.
There arc many strange cases which come
under this category. and DR.. Hammond recently
discussed some of them in The Forum lha1
of the dry-goods bookkcepcr who few montnS
ago stcppcd out of his place of business In this
city and came to himself, as it were, in Wash
iugton several weeks later, appears to have been
NJ the same kind. In all such cases 1t Is TO DC
observed that there is a continuity OF physical
control and also Of mental action. The per-
sonali,v is sometimes changed. but though tho
normal identity disappears. another Instantly
supplants it. The man docs not bccome oc-
wildered He only becomes another man. lie
Is able to go about some business. TO act so rs
not 10 attract attention [; in some instances W
take ND and carry on new line OF purpose anu
Thought. Phenomena Of this character Tor
mcrly wcre held applicable only by the theory
of obsession by free spirit. The intcrprcta-
ton was at least intolligiblo. granting the
premises. and tho spiritualsts have staple
illustration known rs the " Watseka Wonder. y
in which n Young girl was "obsessed " by the
snirit Of another. and changed her personality
! for some months. The French scientists. ana
perhaps Mr.. Myers also, would reject the "oo-
session. theory, and necessarily from thcir
point Of view. but they certainly have not sue
cccdcd in showing how or why these strange
mctamorphoscs occur. The hypothesis that we
all carry about with us the potcntiality OF any
number of personalities. which, or any one or
more of them, may be set in activity 10y some
| fortuitous pressure upon particular part oil tNe
brain. is. to say the least unpleasant to con-
template. and the more so inasmuch rs nobody
appears capable Of suggesting any method ny
which such mysterious intcriercnccs with per-
aonality can be prevented. Altogether 1t Is a
remarkable and deeply interesting. but decidedly
obscure subject.